Gay marriage group Freedom to Marry on
Thursday announced a campaign to fund fights in five 2012 marriage
battleground states, with the first $250,000 coming from Chris
Hughes, a founder of Facebook, and his husband-to-be, Sean Eldridge.

Eldridge told The
New York Times that securing marriage rights is “a top
priority” for the couple.

Evan Wolfson, founder and president of
Freedom to Marry, said in a statement announcing the campaign that
winning even one state referendum would change the course of the
national debate.

“Winning marriage at the ballot in
even one state will take away the last desperate talking-point our
opponents use to disparage the gains we are making across the
country,” Wolfson said. “In each of our battleground states,
Freedom to Marry is taking a lead role alongside local families and
leaders, adding talent and resources on the frontlines to do the
critical work necessary to win.”